Posture chair iron

ABSTRACT

536,763. Adjustable seats. BASSICK CO. Aug. 25, 1939, No. 24527. Convention date, Aug. 26, 1938. [Class 52 (ii)] Relates to means for adjusting the height of an office or other chair back and comprises two relatively-slidable U-shaped members provided with mutually engaging ribs and grooves, the outer member carrying the back and adapted to be clamped to the inner member by flexing the side walls towards one another and thus producing a frictional lock with the assistance of the ribs and grooves. As shown, the chair seat 18 is supported on a spider 17 secured to a swivelling socket 10 which supports an horizontal resilient joint of compressed tubular rubber carrying arms 32 upon the ends of which the back 83 of the chair is supported. The back is carried by a U-shaped member 76, 77 slidable vertically on a U-shaped member 50-51 which is pivoted upon a bolt 44 passing through the arms 32. After sliding the back vertically, the two U-shaped members are clamped together by the wedging action of cam surfaces arranged at the end of the bolt 44 and operated by a hand-lever 96 situated at the right-hand side of the chair. Grooves and ribs 79, 80 on the U-shaped members are thus pressed into tight locking engagement. By similar clamping arrangements provided at the end of a bolt 57 and operated by a hand-lever 74 at the left-hand side of the chair, the U-shaped member 50, 51 may be frictionally clamped to the arms 32 after adjusting the inclination of the back about the pivot 44. The necessary freedom of the bolt 57 during the tilting of the back about the pivot 44 is permitted by straight slots 53 in the U-shaped member 50, 51 and curved slots 56 in the arms 32.

July 22, 194i. w. F. HEROLD- 2,249,828

POSTURE CHAIR IRON n Filed Aug. 26, 195s 4 sheets-sheet 1 A BY.

W ATTORNEY.

.hay` 22, 1941.Y

w. F. HEROLD PosTURE CHAIR IRONy l 4 Sheets-Sheet 5` Filed Aug. 26, 1938 INVENTR. WALTER F Hmmm.

BY' y ZM ATTORNEY.

July 22, 194i. w. F. HEROLD POSTURE CHAIR IRON Filed Aug. 2e. 1958 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR WALTER F Ham-LD.

ATTORNEY Patented July 22, 1941 POSTURE CHAIR IRON Walter F. Herold, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to The Bassck Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 26, 193s, serial No. 226,846

17 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in posture chair irons, particularly for office chairs of the so-called executive type, and in which the seat is swivelly mounted and the back is yieldably mounted. The invention relates particularly to adjusting means for adjusting the height and angularity of the back with respect to the yieldable back support. While the invention is illustrated in connection with a chair of the yieldable back type, it will beA understood that it may be incorporated in chairs of other types, for instance, a chair of the type `in which the back is normally rigidly supported. i

It is an object of the invention to provide adjustment means whereby the occupant of the chair may conveniently adjust the angularity and height of the back while seated in the chair, and to this end it is proposed to provide releasing means for the two adjustments respectively arranged at each side of the chair iron conveniently accessible to the right and left hands of the occupant, such means in the illustrated embodiment including relatively long lever arms normally disposed horizontally along each side of the chair iron and having knobs arranged toward the front of the chair iron where they may be conveniently grasped to release the adjustment means by pushing down upon Vthe levers, and locked simply by pulling the levers up into horizontal position. In locking the adjustment means the `occupant will have the advantage of his own weight seated in the chair as he pulls upwardly upon the relatively long lever arms, thereby obtaining a relatively large mechanical advantage with comparatively little effort. It is further proposed to provide the actuating knobs of the lever arms at points near the tilting center so that they will remain in a substantially fixed position' relatively to the seat irrespective of changes in the angle of the back. 4

'A further object of the invention is to provide adjustment means consisting of transversely arranged guides for the height and angle adjustments, having axially operable means for causing the members to be adjusted to be axially compressed into locking and binding relation with supporting structures, such binding action being broughtabout by axially movable wedging means which are operable by a relatively slight rotary movement of the actuating lever means.

A further object is toprovide in a chair iron an adjustable memberincluding a slot in which is engaged the transverselydisposed axially operable guide and locking means, and further to provide afloating or sliding member constitutlng part of the locking means arranged to have relative movement parallel to the slot, whereby such member remains in a xed relation to the locking means irrespective of the relative position of movement between the adjustable member and the locking means.` It is further proposed to provide such floating or sliding member with a stop for limiting the movement of the actuating lever.

A further object is to provide height adjustment means adapted to be clamped by the locking means into relation with vertical key tracks, which after clamping take substantially the entire strain imposed upon the back, the locking means only holding the key tracks in locked relation.

With the above and other vobjects in View, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and this Vembodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out inthe claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a chair iron, according tothe illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, the locking means being shown in the normal locking position, and the dot-anddash lines indicating the position to which the back is adapted to yield upon rearward pressure being applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the iron, portions of the spider arms being broken away for the sake of clearness. j

' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing the locking means for the height adjusting member in released position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View showing the locking means for the angle adjusting means in released position.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the chair iron.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

" posed upon it. Y,

Within thel space between the bearing porone endV of the actuating lever for the angle adjusting member. l

Fig. is a top View thereof.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation from the outer side of the floating locking stop member associated with the lever shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is an edge view thereof from the right hand side, as shown in Fig. l1.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation from the inner side of one end of the actuating lever for the locking mechanism of the height adjusting member.

Fig; 14 is a top view thereof.

Y Fig. 15 is a side elevation from the inner side of the floating locking stop member associated with the lever shown in Fig. 12. Y 1

Fig. 16 is an edge view thereof from' the right, as shown in Fig. 15.

' Fig. 17 is a perspective View of the posture chair iron according to the invention. Y

Y Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring tosthe drawings, the chair liron bracket member is preferably in the form of a casting, and consists of, a lower portion lil having a pocket formed therein, in which. is engaged the swivel post |2 which swivelly supports the iron upon the usual chair base. Spaced side portions |3|3 extend Vupwardly at each side Lfrom theba'se andproject forwardly and rearwardly at their upper ends where they are prol vided with bosses I 4` having transverse holes l5 therein Yin which-are engaged rivets 4I6 securing the spider arms ll-I'I tothe bracket, these spider arms being secured by screws or rivets to the chair seat I8.

Upon the inner -side of each of the portions |3|3there is formed a cylindrical bearing portion I9, in which the joint element Vfor yieldably supporting the back is rotatably mounted. This joint element consists of an outer tubular member 20, an inner tubular member 2 l, and a cylindrical body of rubber 22 between the members 20 and 2|, and which is Vforced between these members under such great pressure, that sufficient stress is set up therein to provide a rubber torsion member. In practice the rubber member, which before insertion into the youter tubular member 20 is of substantially larger diameter than shown, is first vulcanizedtothe tube 2| and is then forced under hydraulic pressure into the tube 20, the stressY set up upon compression of the rubber being so great that the rubber is in Y effect bonded to the inner surface of the member 2|), so that upon relative rotary movement between the members 2|) and 2| the rubber body is placed under torsional strain. Also the compression of therubber is such that there is no Vappreciable radial displacement of the inner tubular member 2| with respect to the outer tubular member 2i] under the normal loads imtions Ill- 19, a tension adjustment lever' 23 has its collar :portion 24k engaged about the intermediate portion of the outer joint member 23 and rigidly secured vthereto by a set screw 25, the

inner end of the set screw seating in a recess 23 formed'in the member 2li.. An adjusting screw'2l havinga hand grip'2 at its end'is engaged in a bridge portion 3| extending in arched relation between the side portions. |3f|3 Vofthe bracket.

n will be yobvious*that with the inner tubular accises member 2| held rigidly against movement in counter-clockwise direction, as it is when connected to the back supporting arms, as will presently more fully appear, that turning of the screw 21 in one direction will cause the tension adjusting arm 23 to be rotated in counter-clockwise direction thus setting up torsional stress in the rubber member 22, this stress being increased proportionately as the lever is further adjusted in counter-clockwise direction, and decreased as it is adjusted in clockwise direction. This stress is initially set up in the rubber and provides the necessary torsion to retain the back in its normal `upright position and to permit it to yield rearwardly when rearward pressure is exerted thereon, such as when the occupant of the chair leans back in the chair.

The back supporting arms 32-32 are of identical but oppositely arranged form, and each is provided near its forward end with a circular aperture 33 and radially extending inwardly pressed ribs 34-34, which ribs seat in diametrically disposed grooves 35-35 provided in the projecting ends of the inner tubular member 2| of the joint element, the arms being rigidly secured to the tubular member by means of a tie bolt 36 extending through the apertured ends of the arms and the tubular member. The head 3`| at one end of the tie bolt binds upon the outer surface of one of the arms 32 and a nut 38 screwed upon the other threaded end of the bolt bin-ds upon the ctherarm 32 and thus secures the arms rigidly to the tubular member against relative axial and rotary movement.

Each of the arms 32 is provided at its lower edge with an inwardly bent flange 39 which gives it longitudinal stiiness and also cooperates with stop means formed upon the bracket ID, such stop means consisting of lower stop lugs 40-46 integrally formed at each side of the base portion I0 and having horizontal upper surfaces, disposed forwardly of the pivotal axis of the joint element, upon which the flanges 39 seat in the normal horizontal position of the back supporting arms 32, as `shown in solid lines in Fig. l, and upper stop lugs 4|-4|, integrally formed upon the side portions |3|3 of the bracket, provided withV diagonally disposed under surfaces, against which the upper surfaces of the flanges 39cengage in the fully tilted position of the back supporting arms 32 to thus limit the extent of tilt, and as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1. VVIn the rearward end of each of the arms 32 there is provided a bearing aperture 42 formed in an outwardly embossed bearing portion 43 in the upper rear corner of the arm, and through which is engaged the transverse bolt 44 which constitutes the pivotal support for the angle adjusting member, as well as the locking means for the vertical adjustment member, and as will presently more fully appear, this bolt being provided at one end with a head 45 and at its outer end with a nut '46 screwed thereon and locked by means of a cotterpin 41. A tubular spanner sleeve 48 is engagedfupon the bolt 44 between the bearing portions 43-43 of the arms 32-32 and rigidly supportsthese arms in spaced parallel relation.

The angle adjusting member, indicated generally as 49, is in the form of a'U-shaped sheet metal memberrconsisting of a transverse vertically disposed rearward .portion 50, and forwardly extending arms 5|-5I which are of gradually decreasing height toward the forward end. In

each of the arms '5I-5|'there is provided a bearing aperture 52. whichis engaged by the bolt 44 to pivotally supporttheangle adjusting member upon the bolt Vat each side ofthe arms 32-32. In each of .the arms |-5I there is provided an elongateddiagonal slot 53 disposed longitudinally along a line radial to the axis of, the bolt 44. One of the arms. 5|, the` left end one as shown in the illustrated embodiment, vis provided with Yan upper edge portion 54 disposed parallel to the slot 53 in said arm, 'and which is adapted to constitute a guide for the floating slide member of the Ylocking mechanism, as will presently more fully appear.

In each ofthe arms 32-32, in an outwardly embossed bearing portion 55 thereof, there is provided an elongated arcuate slot 56 which is designed and arranged to intersect the slot 53 at substantially the same angle at any point of adjustment of the angle adjusting member about the bolt 44 within the range of adjustment permitted by the slots. A transverse bolt 51 is engaged through the slots 53 and 56 and has a head 58 at one end and a nut 53 screwed upon the other end and fixed by'a cotter pin 60, this bolt carrying the locking means for the angle adjusting member, as will presently more fully appear, and constituting a resistance member with which the intersecting slots engage with a scissor-like gripping action.

A washer 6l is interposed between the nut 60 and the arm 5I of the angle adjusting member at one side. At the other side and in the space between the other arm of the angle adjusting member and the head 58 of the bolt, there is provided upon the bolt the manually operable f locking means for exerting axial binding pressure upon the side armsV 5 l When such binding pressure is released, as will presently more fully appear, the' side arms tend to spring outwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, so that there is a substantially loose relation between the angle adjusting member and the bracket arms 32 to enable the angle adjusting member tobe adjusted` about the shaft 44 as a pivot. In the locking position the side arms are forced inwardly.: against the bracket arms 32 with sufficient friction` set up to rigidly lock the angle adjustment member against relative movement.

The locking means consists of a locking plate member 62 shown in detail in Figs. 11 and 12, having an aperture 63 for engagement with the bolt 51fandprovided at one edgewith an inwardly bent iiange 64 which engages the edge portion 54 of the side arm` 5l in parallelrelation to the slot 53 forming a retaining guide which prevents turning of the locking plate relative to the angle adjusting member while `at the same time permitting it to have free sliding movement along the slot 53. The plate is provided at one point-in its periphery, with an outwardly bent stop lug 65 adapted to cooperate with the locking lever, presentlyvto be more fully described. A'plurality of outwardly projecting radially eX- tending ribs or projections 66 are pressed into the plate 62. k

'I'he locking lever 61, shownin detail in Figs. 9 and l0, is provided at one end with a circular plate portion` 68 having a central aperture 69 for engagement by the bolt 5l, this plate portion being disposed between the locking plate member 62 and the bolt head'58, and being provided in its periphery with an elongated notch 1.0 in which is engagedV the stop lug 65, one end ofthe notch engaging the stop lug in "thelocked position of ,the lever and thejother end engaging `it in the released position ef the lever. The plate portion 68 is provided with a plurality of outwardly pressed radial ribs or projections 'Il which form corresponding recesses 12 at the inner side, the surfaces between these recesses being at.

The disposition of the ribs 1| is such that in the locked position, and in which position the lever arm is substantially horizontally disposed, the ribs 1I are angularly oiset with respect to the ribs 66 of the locking plate member, so that the ribs 66 are forced with a wedging action into engagement with the at surfaces of the lever between the recesses 12, thus producing a wedge action between the side arm of the angle adjusting member and the bolt head 58'which draws the nut 60 and washer 6l tightly against one side arm of the angle adjusting member and tightly presses the other side arm inwardly against the bracket arm 32. This clamping relation is shown in plan View in Fig. 2. In the released position the ribs 'Il of the locking lever and 66 of the locking plate are brought into register, so that the ribs 66 engage in the grooves 12, thus releasing the wedge and allowing the side arms of the angle adjusting member to assume a loose relation with respect to the bracket arms 32, and in which relation the angle adjusting member may be angularly adjusted. 'I'his loose relation is shown in Fig. 4.

The lever 61 extends forwardly and at its forward end is bent outwardly, as at 13, and has a knob handle I4 screwed thereon. It willbe noted that this knob is in such relation that it may be readily engaged by the left hand of the occupant of the chair and pressed downwardly from the horizontal position to conveniently release the locking means, and also that it may be co-nveniently pulled upwardly into locking position, utilizing the advantage of the weight of the occupant of the chair in performing this operation.

The arrangement of the double slots 53 and 56 is such, when pressure is 'applied against the back in the tightened or locked relation of the parts, that the axial clamping action between the sides 5|-5I of the angle adjusting member and the supporting arms 32-32, set up by the wedging action of the locking means, only takes a portion of the torque or moment around the axis of the shaft 44, the resultant being taken by the scissor-action between the slots and the bolt 5l. As only a slight axial clamping action is required to prevent relative movement of the bolt in the slots the locking means does not have Sto be tightened with much force and may therefore be operated with comparative ease. However in the unlocked position with the binding action relieved, as shown in Fig. 4, there is, as the back is angularly adjusted about the axis of the shaft 44, a camming action set up between the slots 53 and 56 and the bolt 51, causing the bolt to move in one or the other direction in the slots. As shown by the dot-,and-dash` lines in Fig. 8 the back has been angularly adjusted rearwardly land the bolt has been moved from substantially the central portion of the vslots to the left hand ends of the slots. In adjusting the back forwardly the movement of the boltwill be in the opposite direction to the right hand ends of the slots. During such adjustment it will be observed that the looking member 62 has sliding or floating movement parallel to the slot 53 and that the stop lug 65 remains in the same relation to the lever in any position of adjustment.

The height adjusting member, v,indicated generallyas 15, isofJU-shape V:and consists ora vertically disposed rearward portion 16 and for- .wardly .bent side arms 11-11, each .provided near its forward edge'with a slot 18, extending in a generally verticaldirection and. parallel to the rear .wall 16, these slots .being engaged with the bolt `44 at the outer sides of the arms 5i-5l of the angle adjusting member. i x

Eachof the side yarms -5I-5-i of the yangle adjusting member is provided witha vertical grolove19 pressed therein at .its outer surface, 'andiwhich is engaged by `a vertical rib 80 pressed from the outer surface of each of the side arms k1'l of the height adjusting member in parallel Y spacedfre'lat-ion to the slot 18.v AThe depth of the groove 19 andrib 80 issuch that they Will re'- main iin engagement and maintain theposition' of the height.V adjusting member with respect to the .angle .adjusting member in both the locked andthe unlockedrelation', it being pointed out in this connection-that in the locked relation, as shown in. Fig. 2, theside arms 11 are pressed inwardlyin-tight engagement with the sides of theV angle adjusting member. by the' locking means, .presently to be more fully described, and thatin the released position the side arms v 11 ,spring out slightly, as shown in Fig. 3,'permitting the .height adjusting member to 1be vertically adjusted with respectto the angle Iad- Vjusting member, theslot 18 movingrelatively t the bolt44 during this action. y

A transverse base member 8l of the chair back is securedvat Aits intermediate portion to the-height adjusting member by rivets 812-82,

,thisV base member be'ing bent forwardly at its tightly into engagement with the side arms 5l' of the angle adjusting member. As a consequence Yexcessive pressure and strain on the chairY back willcause the height radjusting member tobe more flmly securely against displacement relatively to the angleV adjusting member, thus compensatingfor such excessive pressure or strain.

The locking meansvfor the height adjusting for the angle yadjusting member in both struc- 'j ture and operation, andrconsists of VValocking plaite'memberll, shown indetail Vin Figs. i5 and 1'6, having an aperture engaged by the bolt 44 between the Aside,Y arms 11 at one side ofthe height adjusting member and the bolt. head d5, a flange' being bent inwardly at one edge of Y member is substantially like the locking means Y the plateV 84 which engages the forward edge of theV side arm 11 in 'parallel' relation to the `slot 18,; and retains: the locking plate against turning'as theheight adjusting member is moved jduringwertical adjustment.v Atone point in the 'eriplheryofthe member 8:4 there is provided an outwardlytbent stop lug 81 for cooperation Vwith theflocking lever; `asfwillpresently more fully appear. YA plurality of .outwardly pressed radial Y Vribs 88 are pro'vided'in theV plate 8% similar to ,Y rthe ribs 6B of th-e plate 62. Y Y, l ."J'The Vlooking lever 89yis lprovidedjat its rearwardV .end `,wit-h-V an inwardly offset vcircular plate portion' having acentral aperture 9i 'engaged bythe bolt 44 between the locking plate 84 and the bolt head 45, this plate 'portion vbeing `provided in its periphery with van elongated notch 92, in which is engaged the stop lug 81, one end vof the notch engaging thelug in the locked position and the other end engaging it in released position. A plurality of radial outwardly projecting ribs 93 `are provided in the portion 90 which engagek the inner surface of the bolt head 45 .and whichform radial recesses 94 in the inner side having flat surfaces between them, vthese flat surfaces being engaged by the ribs B8 of the locking member with a wedging action in the lockedr position, as shown in Fig. 2, `and the recesses 94 being engaged by the ribs 88 inthe released position of the locking lever, as shown in Fig. 3. At the forward end of the locking lever 89 there is provided an outwardly bent portion 95 having a knob 96 screwed thereon. In the operation of locking the position of the height adjusting member the initial wedging engagement between the` ribs 88 and recesses Sli will cause the side-arms 11 to be flexed inwardly, as relatively long lever arms with respect to their connecting -bends with the rear wall Yportion I6 as fulcrums, to a point where the key track ribs 80 engage firmly with the key track grooves 19, and thereupon, as the wedging locking operation continues, the portions of the side arms 11 forwardly of the ribsy 88 will be further flexed inwardly about the points of 'engagement of the ribs 88 with the grooves 19, causing said ribs and 4grooves to be bindingly engaged through the action ofthe shorter lever arms forwardly of the ribs 80.

In the locked position the lever 89 is disposed horizontally and the knob is toward the forward end of the chair iron, where it may be readily and conveniently grasped by the right hand of the occupant ofthe chair to release the height adjusting memberby pressing downwardly, and locked by pulling upwardly.

It will be noted that the knobs 14 and 96 of Ythe lockingV levers are .disposed in proximity to the axis `of the joint element, about rwhich the chair back is adapted to have swinging movement, and with respect to which the angle and height adjusting members are moved to change the adj-ustment, so that, irrespective of the tilted or adjusted position of the chair back the knobs 4'will remain in substantially the same position with respect to the joint element and the seat. I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of the "invention, but it lwill be understood -that changes may be made therein within the spirit` and scope thereof, yas defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I Y claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Inv aposture chair iron, a chair seat support, ya Vchair'backsupporting `bracket 'member carried by said chair seat support, an angle adjusting member pivotally mounted on said bracket member for" angular adjustment V'movement about a transverse horizontal axis, locking means constructed and arranged to secure the adjusted j position of said angle adjusting member, manuall-yoperable elongatedrlever means for actuating' said locking means exten-ding forwardly at one side of said bracket member, a height adjusting chair back carrying member movably mounted on said angle 'adjustingvr member for rectilinear adjusting movement in la generally Y vertical direction, locking means constructed'and arranged to Asecure the adjusted position of said height adjusting member, and manually operable actuating lever means for actuating said last mentioned locking means extending forwardly at the other `side of said bracket member, and handle means upon the forward ends of said respective first and last mentioned actuating lever means in substantially transversely aligned positions in proximity to the forward portion of said chair seat support enabling them to be respectively grasped and actuated simultaneously upwardly or downwardly by the hands of va person while seated in the chair without exerting rearward pressure of the body on the chair back and with the arms extending substantially vertically downwardly.

2. In a posture chair iron, a chair seat support, a rearwardly extending chair back supporting bracket member carried by said chair seat support, an angle adjusting member pivotally mounted upon the rearward end of said bracket member for angular adjustment movement about a transverse horizontal axis, manually operable means arranged forwardly of said axis for securing the adjusted position of said angle adjusting member, a height adjusting chairback carrying member movably mounted on said angle adjusting member for rectilinear adjusting movement in 'a generally vertical direction, and manually operable locking means coaxial wtih said axis movable between securing and releasing positions constructed and arranged to secure the adjusted -position of said height adjusting member and adapted in the released position to permit free adjustment movement of said height adjusting member.

3; In a posture chair iron, a chair seat support,

` a chair back supporting bracket member carried by said chair seat support, an angle adjusting member, a transverse horizontal shaft pivotally mounting said angle adjusting member on said bracket `member for angular adjusting movement about a transverse horizontal axis, manually operable means for securing the adjusted position of said angle adjusting member, a height adjusting member movably mounted on said angle adjusting member having a slot engaged by'said shaft to guide the adjusting movement of said height adjusting member,l and manually operable means ycarried by said shaft for securing the adjusted position of said height adjusting member.

4. In a posture chair iron, a chair seat support,

a rearwardly extending chair back supporting bracket member carried by said `chair seat support and having a slot, an angle adjusting member, a ,transverse horizontal shaft pivotally mounting said angle adjusting member upon the rearward end of said bracket member for angular adjusting movement about a transverse horizontal axis, said angle adjusting member projecting forwardly with respect to said shaft and having a slot intersecting said slot of said bracket member, both of said slots being non-concentric:` to the axis of said shaft, a horizontal shaft en-` gaged with said slots, manually operable means carried by said last-named shaft for securing the adjusted position of said angle adjusting member, a height adjusting chair back carrying member movably mounted on said angle adjustnig member having a slot engaged by said first-named shaft to guide the adjusting movement of said height adjusting member, and manually operable means lcarried by sai-d last-named shaft for securing the adjusted position of said height adjusting member. y

5. In a posture chair iron, a chair seat support,

a rearwardly 'extending chair back supporting bracket member carried by said chair seat support and having a slot, an angle adjusting member, means pivotally mounting said angle adjusting member upon the rearward end of said bracket member for angular adjusting movement about a transverse horizontal axis, said angle adjusting member having a -portion projecting forwardly with respect to said pivot means disposed laterally adjacent a side of said bracket member and having a slot intersecting said slot of said bracket member, both of said slots being non-concentric to the axis of said pivot means, means engaging said slots at their intersection and adapted to have sliding movement therein during angular adjusting movement of said angle adjusting member, and means for locking the position of said last named means comprising .a locking member carried by said slot engaging means, a manually operable wedge member also carried by said slot engaging means having two operative positions, and projection means carried by said locking member adapted in one operative position of-said wedge member to cooperate therewith to press said angle adjustnig member and said bracket member transversely into tight frictional relation with each other and in the other position to release said binding relation, a height adjusting chair back carrying member having a portion movably mounted on said angle adjusting member at one side thereof and having a slot engaged by said pivot means of said angle adjusting member to guide the adjusting movement of said height adjusting member, a locking member carried by said pivot means, a manually operable wedge member carried by said pivot means having two operative positions, and projection means carried by` said locking meiner, adapted in one position of said wedge member to cooperate therewith to press said height adjusting member into frictional binding relation. with said angle adjusting member and in the other position to release said binding relation.

6. In a posture chair iron, a chair seat support, a `rearwardly extending chair back supporting bracket member carried by said chair seat support and having a slot, an angle adjusting member, means pivotally mounting said angle adjusting member upon the rearward end of said bracket member for angular adjusting movement about a transverse horizontal axis, said angle adjusting member having a portion projecting forwardly with respect to said pivot means disposed laterally adjacent a side of said bracketV member and having a slot intersecting said slot of said bracket member, both of said slots being non-concentric to the axis of said pivot means, a shaft engaging said slots at their intersection and adapted to have sliding movement .therein during angular adjusting movement of said angle adjusting member, a locking member engaged on said shaft and slidable therewith, means for locking the position of said shaft comprising a manually operable wedge lever member having two operative positions, projection means carried by said locking member adapted in one operative position of said lever member to cooperate therewith to press said angle adjusting member and said bracket member transversely into tight frictional relation with each other and in the other position to release said binding relation, and stop means carried by 7. In a posture chair iron, a chair seat support,

a 'rearwardly' extending vchair back supporting bracket member carried by said chair seat support andl'r'aving a'slot, an angle adjusting membeigmean's pivotally mounting said angle adjusting; mer'nber upon the rearwardV -end of said CIN bracket Ymember for angular adjusting movement about a transverse horizontal axis, said angle advjusting'member having a portion projectingV forwardly with respect to said pivot means disposed laterally adjacent a side of said bracket member and havingra slot intersecting said slot of'said bracket member, both of'said slots being non- "concentrici to the axis of said pivot means, a

sh'aftengaging said slots at their intersection and adapted to have sliding movement therein during angular adjusting movement of said angle 'adjusting member, a locking member engaged on said shaft and slidable therewith, means for locking the position of said shaft comprising a manuallyoperable rWedge' lever member having two operative positions, projection means carried by 'said-'locking member' adapted in one operative position fofA said lever member to cooperate therewith to press said angle'adjusting member and said bracket 'member transversely into tight frictionalrelation with each other and in the ether position t release "saidbinding relation, and stop means 'carried'by said locking member to limit the'n1over1`-f1ent'ofV said lever member, a height ad justing chair back carrying' member movably mounted on said` angleadjusting member at'one side Vthereof'having a slot engaged by said pivot means V of-sa'idangleY adjusting member to guide the adjusting movement of said height adjusting member, a locking member engaged on said l pivot means, 'a manually operable'wedge lever member `'carried by said pivot means having twoA operative positions, projection means carried by said locking member adaptedin one positionof said last named lever member to cooperate therewith to press said height adjusting member into frictional binding relation with said angle ad-V v transverse connecting portion, said side arms beingfflexible relatively to said connecting portion whereby they are'capable of flexing movement inwardly and outwardly respectively toward and away` from saidV side walls, locking means oonnected transversely" between said side walls and theY forward end portions of saidl'side arms adapted 'to exert transverse binding pressure on said sideiarms to draw them toward saidrside wa1`1s,`and vertically disposed interlocking 'key track means on said side Walls and said sidearms disposed at transverselylaligned' points between said rearward `transverse connecting portion and said forwardv lockingmeans, adapted through the flexing of said side arms to be brought into binding engagement through the locking operation ofV said .locking means to flx the vertical position of ksaid height-adjusting member, and to be loosened in their engagement through the releasing operation of said locking meansto permit vertical adjustment of said height-adjusting member.

9. In a posture chair iron, a chair seat support, arearwardly extending chair back' supporting bracket member carried by said chair seat support, an angle adjusting member, a transverse horizontal shaft pivotally mounting said angle adjusting member on said bracket member for anguluar adjusting movement about a'trans- 'verse horizontal axis, vmanually, operable means for securing the adjusted position of said angle adjusting member, a guide track carried by said angle adjusting member extending in a generally vertical direction, a height adjusting member including a portion disposed at one side of said height` adjusting member having track means slidably engaging the guide track if said angle adjusting member, and a slot in spaced parallel relation to said track means engaged by said shaft to guide the adjusting movement of said height adjusting member, and manually operable means carried by said shaft for securing the adjusted position of said height adjusting member, said guide track'and saidV track means adapted to remain in engagement with each other in both the' secured and unsecured relation of said height adjusting member.

10. In a posture chair iron, a chair seat support, a chair' back supporting bracket member carried by said chair seat support and comprising a pair of side arms projecting rearwardly, an.

ated to exert transverse binding pressure on the side arms of said angleadjusting member to fric-A tionally bind'them to said bracket member, a height adjusting member of U-shape comprising a pair of sidearms disposed outwardly of vsaid side'arms of said angle adjusting member, and a transverse connecting portion disposed rearwardly of said angle adjusting member, each side ofsaid height adjusting member having a slot engaged by said pivot supporting means to permit relative adjusting movement of said height adjusting member, and'locking means adapted to be manually actuated to exert transverse binding l pressure on the side arms of said height adjusting member to frictionally vbind them to said angle adjusting member@ 1l. In a posture chair iron, a chair seat support, a chair back supporting bracket member carried by said chair 'seat support and comprising a pair of side arms projecting rearwardly, anV

angle adjusting member of U-shape comprising a ypair of side arms disposed at the respective sides of said bracket member and a transverse connecting portion disposed rearwardly of said side arms, a transverse horizontal shaft mounted in the rearward end'of said bracket memberand engaging the sides of said angle adjusting member to pivotally support it for Vangular adjusting movement about a transverse horizontal axis, said side arms of the bracket member and the angle adjusting member having intersecting slots disposed forwardly and in'non-concentric relation to -said shaft, a transverse horizontal shaft extending through said slots at their intersection, a locking member carried by said shaft,` manually operable wedging means carried by said shaft, projection means carried by said locking member adapted'in one position of said wedging means to cooperate therewith to exert axial binding pressure on theside arms of said angle adjusting member to frictionally bind them to said bracket member and in another position to release said binding relation, a height adjusting member of U-shape comprising a pair of side arms disposed outwardly of said side arms of said angle adjusting member, and a transverse connecting portion disposed rearwardly of said angle adjusting member, each side of said height adjusting member having a vertical slot engaged by said rst mentioned shaft to permit relative vertical adjusting movement of said height adjusting member, a locking member carried by said shaft, manually operable wedging means carried by said shaft, projection means carried by said locking member adapted in one position of said Wedge means to cooperate therewith to exert axial binding pressure on the side arms of said height aoljusting member to frictionally bind them to said angle adjusting member and in another position to release said binding relation.

12. In a posture chair iron, a supporting member and a transverse horizontal shaft adjustably carried thereby, an adjustment member adjustably disposed at the side of said supporting member and having a slot engaged with said shaft to guide the adjusting movement of said shaft, a locking wedge lever carried by said shaft, a locking member also carried by said shaft having projection means constructed and arranged to cooperate with said wedge lever, guide means cooperating between said locking member and said adjustment member adapted to retain said locking member in parallel relation to said slot upon relative movement of said adjustment member with respect to said supporting member, and stop means carried by said locking member adapted to limit the movement of said locking lever between two operative positions.

13. In a posture chair iron, a chair seat support, a lchair back supporting bracket member carried by said chair seat support, an angle adjusting member pivotally mounted on said bracket member for angular adjustment movement about a transverse horizontal axis, manually operable lever means for securing the adjusted position of said angle adjusting member extending forwardly at one side of said bracket member in a generally horizontal direction to a point in proximity to the side of said chair seat support, a height adjusting chair back carrying member movably mounted on said angle adjusting member for adjustment movement in a generally vertical direction, and manually operable lever means coaxial with the pivotal axis of said angle adjusting member for securing the adjusted position of said height adjusting member extending forwardly at the other side of said bracket member in a generally horizontal direction to a point in proximity to the side of said chair seat support.

14. In a posture chair iron, a chair seat support, a chair back supporting bracket member,

joint means carried by said chair seat support yieldably supporting said bracket member for swinging movement about a transverse horizontal axis, an angle adjusting member pivotally mounted on said bracket member for angular adjustment movement about a transverse horizontal axis, locking means constructed and arranged to secure the adjusted position of said angle adjusting member, manually operable lever means for effecting the securing and releasing of said locking means extending forwardly at one side of said bracket member in a generally horizontal direction to a point in proximity to the axis of said joint means, a height adjusting chair back carrying member movably mounted on said angle adjusting member for adjustment movement in a generally vertical direction, locking means constructed' and arranged to secure the adjusted position of said height adjusting member, and manually operable lever means for effecting the securing and releasing of said last mentioned locking means coaxial with the pivotal axis of said angle adjusting member and extending for- Wardly at the other side of said bracket member in a generally horizontal direction to a point in proximity to the axis of said joint means.

l5. In a posture chair, a supporting member comprising outwardly facing vertically disposed side walls, a height-adjusting chair-back-carrying member engaged about the sides and rearof said supporting member comprising a pair of side arms disposed outwardly of said side walls and a transverse connecting portion, said side arms being flexible relatively to said connecting portion wherby they are capable of flexing movement inwardly and outwardly respectively toward and away from said side walls, said side arms having in their forward portions transversely aligned vertical slots, locking means vertically xed in said supporting member engaged through said slots and connected transversely between said side walls and the forward end portions of said side arms adapted to exert. transverse binding pressure on said side arms to draw them toward said side walls, and vertically disposed interlocking key track means on said side walls and said side arms parallel to said slots and disposed at transversely aligned points between said rearward transverse connecting portion and said forward locking means, adapted through the flexing of said side arms to be brought into binding engagement through the locking operation of said locking means to fix the vertical position of said height-adjusting member, and to be loosened in their engagement through the releasing operation of said locking means to permit vertical adjustment of said height-adjusting member.

16. In a posture chair, a supporting member comprising outwardly facing vertically disposed side walls, a height-adjusting chair-back carrying member engaged about the sides and rear of said supporting member comprising a pair of side arms disposed outwardly of said side walls and a transverse connecting portion, said side arms being flexible relatively to said connecting portion whereby they are capable of flexing movement inwardly and outwardly respectively toward and away from said side walls, locking means connected transversely between said side walls and the forward end portions of said side arms adapted to exert transverse binding pressure on said side arms to draw them toward said side walls, and vertically disposed interlocking key track means on said side walls and said side arms disposed at transversely aligned points between said rearward transverse connecting portion and said forward locking means, the projection of said key track means relatively to said side arms being such that said key track means are adapted through the flexing of said side arms relatively to said transverse connecting portion to be brought into engagement through the inital locking operation of said locking means, said side arms adapted to be further flexed at their forward portions"V relatively to said engaged key track. means asfulcrums through further locking operationof said locking means to cause binding engagement-,of said key track means to x the vvertical positionv of said height adjusting memwhereby they are' capable ofl exing movementV inwardly and outwardly respectively toward and away from saidfside walls, locking means oonnected transversely between saidside Walls and the forward `end portions of said side armsadapted to exert transverse binding pressure on said side arms to-draw them toward said side walls, and said side arms adapted to be loosened in their engagement through thereleasing operation of said locking means to permit vertical'adjustment of said height-adjusting member, and chair-back means extending vertically upwardly from said height-adjusting-member including a base portion overlying said transverse connecting portion at Vits rearward side and riveted thereto at points inwardly spaced from said side arms, whereby rearward .pressure on said chair-back means exerts a bending moment on said transverse connecting portionr to draw said side arms toward each other intov binding relation with said sidewalls.

WALTER F. HEROLD. 

